News & Reviews

Symphony Orchestra taps into grief therapy of drum circle rhythm

Through grants and a program called HealthRHYTHMS, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra provides drum circles for several organizations including Youth Villages, said Frank Shaffer, a percussionist for the orchestra and an associate professor of percussion at the University of Memphis.

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Memphis Symphony to perform Orff’s iconic Carmina Burana as season’s finale

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra will give a final salute to an extraordinary First Tennessee Masterworks season of concerts with two performances of the rousing and earthy Carmina Burana: Cantiones Profanae May 19 and 20.

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Sunset Symphony An Encore in 2012

A rousing 2011 performance left Sunset Symphony fans wanting more, and that's what they'll get. Memphis music legends The Bar-Kays will team up with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for an 2012 encore.

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Arts festival brings crafts, music to Orange Mound

Memphis Symphony participated in the ArtsMemphis Pop Up at Orange Mound, where the MSO's Opus One performed with rapper Al Kapone.

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Al Kapone’s Pop Up Arts Party

What do Rap, and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra have in common? Al Kapone, the renowned Memphis Rapper recently teamed up with the symphony and it went so well, he’s doing it again. This time, instead of on stage, he’s taking it to the streets, for a free Pop Up arts Fest in Orange Mound. Al is here with Lauren Boyer from Arts Memphis.

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Music Foundation’s Resource Center helped lift symphony, touches all genres of music

Since its inception four years ago, the Music Resource Center at the Memphis Music Foundation has aided scores of emerging musicians from genres across the board, from hip-hop to rock ’n’ roll to vocal jazz. But one of its most intriguing success stories hinges on classical music.

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Memphis symphony taps local as interim CEO

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WTW) — The Memphis Symphony Orchestra has selected businessman Arthur Seessel to serve as interim chief executive officer.

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MSO names interim CEO, announces Assistant Conductor finalists

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra has named an interim CEO following Ryan Fleur's announcement that he was taking an executive position with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Art Seessel, the former President of the Seessel's supermarket chain, will stand in as acting CEO while the organization searches for Fleur's replacement.

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Five finalists to audition to be Memphis Symphony's associate conductor

Five finalists have been chosen to audition for Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s associate conductor position.

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Yo-Yo Ma to perform during Memphis Symphony's 2012-13 season

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra is bringing in famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to celebrate its 60th anniversary season.

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Memphis Symphony Orchestra's Fleur to take job with Philadelphia

Jon Sparks

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Memphis Symphony Orchestra's Ryan Fleur takes executive position with Philadelphia Orchestra

Chris Davis

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MSO hopes program unlocks difficult work

Jon Sparks on the Symphony's upcoming performance of Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring"

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Memphis Symphony Pops Features The Contours

Who can't get their groove back when "Do You Love Me" rocks out from an oldies station? On Saturday, March 10th, at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, you can hear The Contours — who made that song a phenomenal hit back in 1962 — team up with the Memphis Symphony to perform "A Tribute to Motown." Article by Marilyn Sadler in The Memphis Magazine

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Concert Review: Latin beat mixes well with symphony sound

Jon W. Sparks reviews the MSO Opus One concert with Marcela Pinilla in GoMemphis

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Marcela Pinilla to Perform with Opus One

Marcela Pinilla will be joining members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for an upcoming Opus One concert, featuring world dance rhythms that will get you off your feet and onto the dance floor. WKNO FM by By Kacky Walton and Justin Willingham

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Editorial: Applause for MSO

A patron congratulates the MSO for Mei-Ann's contract extension in the Commercial Appeal.

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Talk of the Day -- Taiwan-born conductor shines in U.S.

There has been few female conductors of Chinese descent in the global music community. Mei-Ann Chen, the Taiwan-born music director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO), is an exception. Her growing stature as a conductor with the noted orchestra has been earning increased notice in the United States. Article by Sofia Wu

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Memphis Symphony Orchestra offers free program

Article in the Commercial Appeal

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Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Mei-Ann Chen make 3-year pact

Article by Jon Sparks, Commercial Appeal

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Review: MSO serves up eclectic offerings

Review by Jon Sparks in the Commercial Appeal

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Violinist Gil Shaham joins Memphis Symphony on 'Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto'

By Jon Sparks in GoMemphis

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Renaissance 2012

Arts organizations bounce back, expect strong year by JONATHAN DEVIN | Special to The Daily News

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Memphis Symphony to do free program Sunday

MSO's Opus One Connections program launches

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See the Memphis Symphony for free at the Germantown Library

MSO's Library Tunes & Tales presents free performances for children in local libraries.

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Concert Review: Memphis Symphony conveys influences of Russia

Great review of our From Rachmaninoff to Tchaikovsky: The Russians concert!

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365 Things to Do in Memphis #15: Go to an Opus One Concert

Read this blogger's take on MSO's Opus One series.

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Kirov leaving Memphis Symphony Orchestra for Seattle Symphony

Stilian Kirov, the Associate Conductor of the MSO, is leaving for the Seattle Symphony

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Concert Pays Homage to King

Great article about our Elvis Birthday Pops concert by JONATHAN DEVIN | Special to The Memphis News

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Guest column: Service, music pave path to healing

Gayle Rose writes of the Symphony's performance at the Union Mission in honor of her son, Max.

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The Symphony Plays Union Mission

Next Tuesday evening the symphony and its chorus will travel a few blocks east on Poplar and perform at The Memphis Union Mission’s Opportunity Center at 600 Poplar Avenue. Article in The Daily News Blog.

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Best of 2011: Memphis concerts expanded meaning of 'classical'

Article by Jon Sparks in Go Memphis

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Conductor Comes Home for the Holidays

An interview on Fox 13 of Stilian Kirov, associate conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Stilian conducted the popular Home for the Holidays concert on December 17, which was aired on Fox 13 December 23-25. Greg Coy interviews Stilian.

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Off the clock: Mei-Ann chen MSO's Chen conducts each concert as if it were her last

Article in the Commercial Appeal By Lindsay Melvin

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'Memphis Messiah' a group effort

An article in GoMemphis discussing the collaborative efforts between Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Orphanos Foundation to bring Handel's Messiah to at-risk children in Memphis. Written by Brown Burnett, Special to The Commercial Appeal

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Innovation That Pays

In this podcast, Richard Evans talks with Ryan Fleur, CEO of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Kelly Pollock, Executive Director of the Center of Creative Arts about innovative projects that turn risk capital into new revenue.

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Memphis Symphony Orchestra showcases its all-local talent

Concert Review by Jon Sparks in GoMemphis.

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MSO Opus One and Al Kapone at The New Daisy Review

A review by Nathan Powell, ArtsMemphis Rants and Raver

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One Love

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra's Opus One launches its third season, gets crunk with rapper Al Kapone. Cover Feature Article in The Memphis Flyer By Chris Davis

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Styles Blend at Opus One Concert

Guest artist Al Kapone will join the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for the season opener of its Opus One concert series, which features local artists and a blend of musical genres. The concert Nov. 10 will be MSO’s first performance on Beale Street. JONATHAN DEVIN | Special to The Memphis News

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Beethoven just may roll over to 'Whoop That Trick'

Rapper Kapone, orchestra making symphony music together By Jon W. Sparks

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Dvorak 'New World' Symphony: Review by Nathan Powell - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver

This past weekend the Memphis Symphony Orchestra performed a concert featuring the three conducting competition winners: Ken Lam, Roger Kalia and Aram Demirjian. Each winner had the opportunity to conduct a piece from the orchestral repertoire.

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Commercial Appeal Memphis Photos

On Oct. 11, the residents and daycare participants at Apple Grove Alzheimer's and Dementia Residence, along with their families and friends, were entertained by the Memphis Symphony String Quartet. Members of the quartet are Andy Yu (left), Jessie Muson, Michelle Pellay Walker and Milena Albrecht.

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Concert Review: Conducting Competition Winners Prove Their Talent

Top three finishers lead the Memphis Symphony Orchestra Earlier this year, the MSO announced it would host an international conducting competition, something done infrequently in the United States, but fairly common in Europe and Asia. Three winners emerged from the contest held in May, and in addition to cash prizes, they got to conduct the MSO in this weekend's Masterworks concerts. Winners: Ken Lam (Joy Brown Wiener Musical Excellence Award), Roger Kalia, Aram Demirjian

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Bach, Brahms, & Beethoven Review by Nathan Powell - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver

To view the article online: http://www.artsmemphis.org/event/detail/441331789/Bach_Brahms_Beethoven

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Concert Review: MSO Delivers with Classical Standards

Mei-Ann Chen likes to refer to the reliable concert standards as the "meat and potatoes" of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra's programming. Friday night's roundup of the killer B's works -- Bach, Beethoven and Brahms being featured -- was all about the crowd-pleasers, but with some new aspects to the mix.

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In Challenging Times, Overstretched Board Members Fight Burnout

The bad economy has worn out many of the trustees who sit on charity boards across the nation, say nonprofit executives and consultants who advise boards. Nonprofits have been putting greater demands on their trustees for the past four years just as many board members have been facing financial pressures of their own. The Memphis Symphony is prominently featured in this article as a non-profit that is breaking the trend. Note: Must have a subscription to The Chronicle of Philanthropy in order to see whole story.

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Review: MSO rockets into Masterworks season

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra blasted off to the future this weekend. Maestro Mei-Ann Chen led the first Masterworks concert of the season Saturday night, a cosmic-themed program that was both conservative and ambitious. As she begins her second full season with the MSO, Chen is firing on all thrusters in her mission to improve the quality of the orchestra, secure the loyal base of subscribers and establish programming to lure in new fans.

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Review: 'Every Good Boy' Deserves Praise

On Thursday night, the first of three performances of Tom Stoppard's "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" were presented at Playhouse on the Square in a partnership with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

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Q&A with Susanna Perry Gilmore, Violinist with the MSO

Long time Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO) violinist Susanna Perry Gilmore will remain in Memphis throughout the 2011-12 season. But when the season ends, Perry Gilmore, who's performed as the MSO's concertmaster since 1997, is off for her new role as concertmaster for the Omaha Symphony.

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Memphis Symphony Orchestra | 585 S. Mendenhall Road, Memphis, TN 38117

Box Office (901) 537-2525 | Administration (901) 537-2500 | Fax (901) 537-2550 | Email: info@memphissymphony.org